Chief Executive Officer of CropLife Australia, Mr Matthew Cossey, said, “Food crops compete with tens of thousands of weeds, plant-eating insects, viruses, fungi and more – all with the ability to devastate farming operations. Farmers must adopt agricultural practices that control pests, while reducing their environmental impact and limiting resistance issues.

“Having an integrated pest management system and an effective resistance management strategy for chemical crop protection products is crucial to the long‑term viability and profitability of Australian farming.”

With the devastating pest, the fall armyworm, now in Australia, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has approved a number of emergency use permits to provide protection options for a range of crops.

Mr Cossey continued, “Fall armyworm has been devastating for many overseas farming sectors. This is a pest that now poses a serious threat to Australian crops.

“The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority has responded by approving a number of emergency permits for farmers to utilise should they encounter fall armyworm on their crops.

“The plant science industry is focussed on providing growers with as many solutions as possible to manage pest incursions – including fall armyworm.

“That’s why we have prepared a fall armyworm strategy as part of our 2020 Resistance Management Strategies. These strategies ensure important crop protection products remain effective tools for farmers.

“Growers encountering fall armyworm should utilise the emergency permits approved by the APVMA in line with their integrated pest management strategy.”

The Resistance Management Strategies for fungicides, herbicides and insecticides have been reviewed by scientific technical review committees in consultation with relevant national and international experts.

Mr Cossey concluded, “As part of our stewardship initiatives, CropLife and our members are committed to making resistance management advice freely available. The more farmers adopting this best-practice information, the more sustainable the use of crucial crop protection products for Australia’s farming sector.”